Invisible Sentinel and Jackson Family Wines Partner on Diagnostic for the Wine Industry

Posted on January 06, 2014

Invisible Sentinel Inc., a life-sciences company that develops and manufactures rapid molecular diagnostics for the food industry, announced today that it will partner with Jackson Family Wines, the family-owned winery in Sonoma County, on a first-in-class rapid diagnostic to detect Brettanomyces, a wine-spoiling yeast.

The diagnostic assay, called Veriflow BRETT, will be developed with the use of Invisible Sentinel's proprietary Veriflow technology, which is already the basis of tests marketed to detect microbes of concern in food production and distribution. The development of Veriflow BRETT will take advantage of the deep experience of Jackson Family Wines, and its acclaimed portfolio of wineries across California as well as internationally.

Brettanomyces produces compounds that in excess can foul the taste of wine and give it an odor sometimes described as "barnyardy." Current methods of on-site testing for Brettanomyces are time-consuming, with the consequence that the compounds continue to accumulate and corrective measures are delayed. Product is thus subject to spoilage.

The agreement between Invisible Sentinel and Jackson Family Wines anticipates that a successfully developed Veriflow assay to detect Brettanomyces will eventually be marketed across the wine industry.

"Jackson Family Wines produces some of the most popular and most respected wines in the industry," said Nick Siciliano, chief executive officer of Invisible Sentinel. "Their commitment to quality has driven the success of their organization. Our partnership to build a better diagnostic for Brettanomyces is indicative of this acclaimed winery's dedication to the highest standards."

Hugh Reimers, chief operating officer of Jackson Family Wines, commented: "We look forward to deploying this new application of Invisible Sentinel's innovative detection technology. The superior speed, ease of use, and accuracy that Veriflow technology has made available to other industries promises to enhance our already rigorous quality control."

The partnership with Jackson Family Wines was established through Invisible Sentinel's Custom Solution Program, a contract service that helps clients develop customized assays on the Veriflow platform. Apart from the Custom Solution Program, Invisible Sentinel develops and markets Veriflow assays for broad use by the food and beverage industries. The Company's product suite is currently anchored by the following assays: Veriflow LS for Listeria species, Veriflow SS for Salmonella species, Veriflow CA for Campylobacter, and Veriflow LM for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional Veriflow assays for the food and beverage industries are under development.

About Invisible Sentinel

Invisible Sentinel develops diagnostic technologies for a safer food supply. The Company focuses on developing rapid diagnostics that quickly provide accurate information about the presence of harmful pathogens. The first-in-class patented technology, produced under good manufacturing practices, provides the same data as the US Department of Agriculture reference methods but minimizes the time, reduces the cost, and lowers the overhead associated with conventional diagnostics. The food industry is the first market that the Company is targeting, but its platform technology has the potential to provide valuable tools for additional industries including healthcare, veterinary services, biodefense, and environmental testing, where rapid detection of target analytes from unrefined samples is critical. Uniquely designed for easy, practical use—on-site and throughout the entire food-distribution network —Invisible Sentinel's proprietary diagnostic products promise to create a new standard for rigorous quality control. Invisible Sentinel is based in Philadelphia at the University City Science Center.

About Jackson Family Wines

Jackson Family Wines (JFW) is a family-owned company that crafts award-winning wines of distinct character and quality. With a focus on sustainable viticulture practices, responsible vineyard and natural resource management and unparalleled winemaking, the family's portfolio comprises more than 30 renowned wineries. In addition to their acclaimed California producers, JFW includes fine wines from France, Chile, Italy and Australia. Founded in 1982 by wine pioneer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jess Jackson, JFW and its various wineries are led by chairman and proprietor Barbara Banke and the Jackson family.